Envelope opener



May 6, 1941. J. w. BARBOUR ENVELOPE OPENER Filed March 14, 1940 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Eli 5m; fiariour A iiorneyv y 1941. J. w. BARBOUR2,240,975

ENVELOPE 0PENER Filed March 14, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ttomey4 Jajms Wfiarioar i Patented May 6, 1941 2,240,975. ENVELOPE OPENER,

James W. Barbour, Pekin, 111., assignor'of onehalf to Rudolph W. Haake,Sr., Pekin,.Ill.

Application March 14, 1940,, Serial No. 323,992

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in envelopeopeners and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner ashereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel.construction and arrangement whereby one end portion of various sizes ofenvelopes may be expeditiously and cleanly cut off.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an envelopeopener of the aforementioned character which may be conveniently andaccurately adjusted as desired.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide anenvelope opener of the character described comprising novelmeans forreceiving and. retaining the cuttings or. trimmings. I

Other objects of the invention. are to provide an envelope opener of thecharacter set forth which will be comparatively simple in construction,strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact, light inweight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at lowcost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of theinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein like characters of reference designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a View in front elevation of an envelope opener constructedin accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical section through the device, takensubstantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the horizontally adjustable platform withthe stationary blade thereon.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective of the vertically moving bladeor knife.

Figure 5 is a detail View in vertical section, taken substantially onthe line 55 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a basewhich is designated generally by the reference numeral I, said basebeing of any suitable material, preferably metal. The base I issubstantially rectangular in plan. Formed longitudinally in the uppersurface of the base I is an arcuate depression 2 which terminates inspaced relation to the ends of said base. It may be well to here statethat the depression 2 is adapted to receive the cuttings from theenvelopes which are opened. Thus, the base I also constitutes what maybe considered a tray or receptacle.

Mounted on the base I are side members 3 of substantially the shapeshown to advantage in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Extending between theupper portions of the side members 3 is a bar 4. Mounted on the innerfaces of the side members 3 are vertical guides 5. The purpose of theguides 5 will'be presently set forth.

The reference numeral 6 designates horizontalguides which are mounted onthe inner front portions of the side members 3. It will be noted thatthe guides 6 extend from the guides 5 to the front edges of the sidemembers 3, also that said guides B" are spaced above the base I. Mountedfor sliding adjustment in the guides 6 is a shelf or platform I. Theupper, inner portion of the platform I is recessed to accommodate astationary blade 3 which is secured by screws 9, said blade 8 projectingbeyond the inner edge of the platform. 1 in a manner shown to advantagein Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The front portions of the side members 3- have formed therein horizontalslots I0 (see Fig. 5). Operable in the slots ID are screws II which aremounted in the end portions of the platform I and which constitute meansfor securing said.

platform in adjusted position. Washers I2 are provided between the headsof the screws I I and the side members 3.

Extending slidably through the bar 4 is a vertical plunger I3. Mountedon the upper end of the plunger I3 is a knob I4. Mounted on the lowerend portion of the plunger I3 is a knife carrier I5 in the form of aplate having its end portions slidably engaged in the guides 5. Theplunger I3 includes a reduced lower portion I6 which is secured in abore provided therefor in the carrier I5 by a set screw I'I. Mounted atan inclination on the front of the carrier I5 is an adjustable knife I8which coacts with the stationary blade 8. Vertical slots I9 in the endportions of the knife I8 accommodate securing screws 20 and. permitadjustment of said knife on the carrier I5. On the end portions of theknife carrier I5 are vertical ribs 2| which function as gauges forpreventing the stationary blade 8 from contacting said carrier where itwould be beneath the cutting edge'of the knife I8.

A coil spring 22 is provided on the plunger I3 for elevating the knifeI8. The major portion of the bore 23 in the bar 4 which accommodates theplunger I3 is enlarged or counter-bored, as at 24, for the reception ofthe lower portion of the coil spring 22. The upper end of the coilspring 22 is engaged beneath the knob l4.

Mounted on the inner faces of the side members 3, adjacent the front andback edges thereof, are lugs or the like 25. The reference numeral 26designates vertically slotted cutting retaining plates which are securedto the lugs 25 between the side members 3 by screws 21. The plates 26constitute means for preventing the envelope cuttings or trimmings fromaccidently getting out of the base or receptacle I.

lit is thought that the operation of the device will be readily apparentfrom a consideration of the foregoing. Briefly, the end portion of theenvelope to be opened is placed on the platform I and the stationaryblade 9 in abutting engagement with the carrier beneath the lower edgeof the inclined knife I8. 'The plunger 13 is then forced downwardlyagainst the tension of the coil spring 22 thereby moving the carrier l5downwardly in the guides 5. Thus, the knife I8 is moved downwardly pastthe inner edge of the stationary blade 8 and the end portion of theenvelope which projects beyond said blade 8 is cleanly sheared off. Whenthe knob I4 is released the springl22 immediately returns the knife 18to raised position ready for the next operation. The cuttings ortrimmings from the opened envelopes drop into the depression 2 in thebase I. By loosening the screws H the stationary blade 8 may beconveniently adjusted relative to the knife [8. It will be observed thatthe carrier l 5 extends below the stationary blade 8 even when suchcarrier is in raised position. Thus, the carrier constitutes a gauge forthe envelopes to be opened at all times.

' It is believedthat the many advantages of an envelope openerconstructed in accordance with the present invention will be readilyunderstood and although a preferred embodiment of the device is asillustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in thedetails of construction and in the combination and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed is:

In an envelope opener, vertical spaced, opposed side members, ahorizontal envelope supporting platform mounted between said members foradjustment in a horizontal plane, a relatively fixed knife mounted onsaid platform with its cutting edge projecting therebeyond, a combinedenvelope abutting and knife carrying plate slidable vertically betweenthe opposed faces of the side members for limiting the distance anenvelope may be extended beyond the cutting edge of said knife on theplatform, a knife mounted on said plate above the lower edge thereof,the cutting edge of the second named knife being in spaced relation tosaid plate for coaction with the first named knife for cutting off theportion of the envelope which projects beyond the cutting edge of saidfirst named knife against said plate, a spring influenced hand operatedmeans connected to the plate and normally urging said plate upwardly toposition the second named knife in non-cutting position above the firstnamed knife with the portion of the plate below said second named knifein place to be abutted by the envelope placed on the platform, meansmounted on the side members for guiding and supporting said operatingmeans and for limiting the upward movement of the plate to maintain, thelower portion thereof in position to be engaged by the envelope placedon the platform, and vertical gauge ribs on said plate between the loweredge thereof and the cutting edge of the second named knife for spacingthe cutting edge of the first named knife, when engaged therewith, outof the path of said second named knife and in such relation to themovement of said second named knife as to bring about a shearing actionbetween the cutting edges of the knives when one is moved verticallyrelative to the other.

JABUS WM. BARBOUR.

